The Bar Towel

dale cannon wrote:

GregClow wrote:

ErkLR wrote:So is it imported or being brewed at Brick?

Imported.

Press release from last Nov:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/881303/ ... -to-canada

FWIW, from the LCBO website:

MAGIC HAT #9
LCBO 291393 | 6x355 mL bottle

Price: $ 13.50

Made in: New York, USA
By: Labatt Usa Operating Co. Llc

Beer
5.1% Alcohol/Vol.

North American Breweries is the company that owns Labatt USA and also owns Magic Hat which is not at all affiliated with Labatt Canada. I think A-B had to sell off Labatt USA when they were bought by Inbev.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Breweries

Yeah, here's more on the Labatt USA thing. From WikiPedia:

In 2009, Labatt sold Labatt USA, including the American rights to its core Labatt products (such as Blue, Blue Light, and Labatt 50) to North American Breweries, and agreed to brew those brands on Labatt USA's behalf until 2012. This sale was mandated by the U.S. Department of Justice for competitive reasons following InBev's merger with Anheuser-Busch, since Budweiser and Labatt Blue were both among the top brands in upstate New York, despite the latter having less than 1% market share in the U.S. overall.

The sale did not include U.S. rights to Labatt products not carrying the "Labatt" label, such as Kokanee or Alexander Keith's, which are now distributed in the U.S. by Anheuser-Busch. Moreover, the underlying intellectual property (such as the Labatt trademarks) remains the property of the Canadian firm. Finally, the sale did not affect Labatt's Canadian operations in any way; Anheuser-Busch InBev retains full control of the Labatt brand portfolio within Canada.

North American Breweries, the company mentioned above that owns Labatt USA, is also parent company for Magic Hat and several other US breweries. They are headquartered at the Genesee brewery in Rochester. It's quite possible that they are now brewing some Magic Hat beer there for capacity reasons.

Also, an interesting side note: While the Wikipedia quote above indicates that Labatt Canada would brew the Labatt USA brands from 2009 (year of the sale) until 2012, the deal was actually that they would brew the brands for NAC for UP TO 3 years, until NAC found another place to brew them. And in 2010, NAC did find another brewery to brew the Labatt brands for the US market - Molson-Coors!

http://www.canadianbeernews.com/2010/08 ... -s-market/

In the two years since, they have purchased several US breweries, so they might be brewing the Labatt brands in the US now. But for a period of time, Molson was brewing Blue and Blue Light in Canada and shipping it to the US.

GregClow wrote: North American Breweries, the company mentioned above that owns Labatt USA, is also parent company for Magic Hat and several other US breweries. They are headquartered at the Genesee brewery in Rochester. It's quite possible that they are now brewing some Magic Hat beer there for capacity reasons.

I guess that might explain why I often see #9 wedged between macros and separated from the "real" craft taps when I'm down south. I personally find it to be a pretty decent, well-made session beer, but I think some people go into it expecting a big hop character (b/c of the APA base) and are let down when they realize it's just a malty-spicy fruit beer. For anyone who hasn't tried it, I'd say it's worth a purchase if the stores get fresh stock.

FWIW my local TBS was shorted on our order last week. Have to wait until our next LCBO shipment now. Darn, guess I'm stuck with frest Oatmeal Stout and 606

cratez wrote:I personally find it to be a pretty decent, well-made session beer, but I think some people go into it expecting a big hop character (b/c of the APA base) and are let down when they realize it's just a malty-spicy fruit beer. For anyone who hasn't tried it, I'd say it's worth a purchase if the stores get fresh stock.

That was pretty much my experience trying it the first time a couple years ago. I split 6 with a friend on Monday and my opinion's still the same as yours. Decent and well-made; I'd never turn down a bottle if someone offered, but I don't think I'll bother buying more.

My store received our first shipment this week. Picked up 6 today....anxious to try it later tonight.

49$ - 24 Bottles, 25$ in the US for 24 bottles, they can keep it! I will buy when I am down south!

GregClow wrote: And in 2010, NAC did find another brewery to brew the Labatt brands for the US market - Molson-Coors! But for a period of time, Molson was brewing Blue and Blue Light in Canada and shipping it to the US.

And still is. The six tanks brought in by Molson that came through Hamilton and got a lot of press were installed to make Blue products for NY state which is the largest market for Blue. I guess it is very eiree walking down the bottling lines and see Blue running one side and Canadian on the other. Blue is one of the largest volumes now.

Rob Creighton wrote:I guess it is very eiree walking down the bottling lines and see Blue running one side and Canadian on the other.

Picked up a sixer ... Man this stuff is terrible. Tastes like eggplant, no kidding about being a vegtable/fruit beer. I was hopeing for more or an american pale ale.

I wasn't crazy on it either. I definetly wouldn't buy it again. People are liking it, or atleast curious about it, as our initial shipment sold out in a week. We've got 4 more cases coming next week. I thought it had a rather skunky nose and I didn't really get much of the fruit taste in it. With our recent addition of Mad Tom, Crazy Canuck, and my usual stand bys, I won`t be getting this one again!

Very pleased this is here - I love #9!

#9 is for sale!

http://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.ca/2012/09/m ... abatt.html